A Timeline of Our History
Our Organization – Our History
Our Work Over The Years
The California Alliance for Community Energy (CACE) was founded in 2015 to give California communities real say over where their power comes from and who decides. Join us in this fight.
Scroll down to learn about our activism and the notable resources that we have published throughout the years.
Delve deeper into any particular year by checking out its detailed year in review.
California Alliance for Community Energy
2015
CACE was officially established to protect local energy sovereignty, beginning a multi-year effort to combat utility-driven centralization and threats to community choice.
2016
We first officially spoke out against the Power Charge Indifference Adjustment (PCIA), demanding an end to the departing load charges. A landmark agreement was reached by all parties, including the Governor’s office, to shut down PG&E’s obsolete Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant by 2025.
Despite this agreement, the battle over Diablo Canyon did not end in 2016.
2017
We laid out core operational groundwork by publishing definitive policy frameworks, defending local agency autonomy from CPUC overreach, and partnering with the Clean Coalition to advocate for reforms to transmission access charges.
Notable Publications:
2018
We achieved a major statewide victory by defeating the AB 813 grid privatization push and expanded our digital activist network using the Action Network platform.
Notable Publications:
2019
CACE tripled its supporter base by launching aggressive campaigns to roll back punitive CPUC fee hikes, define a Community Choice Bill of Rights, and fight a legislative wave of utility-friendly bills.
Notable Publications:
2020
In the face of pandemic-related legislative shutdowns, we successfully organized an 8 out of 11 agency rejection of PG&E’s excess nuclear energy dump and launched critical frameworks on community-driven energy resilience.
Notable Publications:
2021
We expanded our coalition-building efforts to center energy justice and racial equity, while securing our first major foundation grant from the Schmidt Family Foundation’s 11th Hour Project.
Notable Publications:
2022
We mobilized major grassroots resistance against the CPUC’s ongoing attacks on rooftop solar and Governor Newsom’s unexpected ratepayer-funded bailout of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant.
Notable Publications:
2023
We maintained fierce advocacy against utility rate hikes and anti-solar regulations. We also navigated a challenging year of organizational transition following the passing of co-founder Al Weinrub.
Notable Publications:
2024
We expanded our Steering Committee to stabilize organizational leadership and strengthened member engagement. We remain an active thought-leadership platform, with a vision for a clean, resilient, and equitable energy future.
Notable Statewide Call Videos:
2025
We joined the statewide Affordable Energy Campaign, a powerful alignment of more than 30 social and environmental justice organizations. We also laid the groundwork for member-led task forces and strengthened internal digital infrastructure during organizational rebuilding.
Notable Publications & Statewide Calls:
2026
Investor-owned utilities continue to post record profits alongside skyrocketing rate hikes, ongoing attacks on rooftop solar, and dangerous pushes to extend the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant.
A new wave of resistance is rising as Californians are fighting back against state-level utility favoritism. CACE’s network has grown to over 250 members, and our statewide advocacy is more urgent than ever.
Notable Publications & Statewide Calls:
Our Work Continues.
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